We have been missing Maddie at school! Most of you know that she broke her leg a couple weeks ago. This has been a big topic of conversation for kids at school. “What happened???” “Will she be okay?” “Why did her leg break?” Teachers give space for kids’ questions and wonderings. We continue to assure them that Maddie’s family, especially her grown-ups, are taking good care of her. When children express feelings of concern like this about another person, they often need to hear that they are safe and well taken care of too. We will continue to listen and wonder together, to reflect and reassure.
We’ve also given children a way to put some of their feelings into action by creating artwork and notes for Maddie. We did a full group letter at group time, so everyone had the opportunity to add their ideas to one message for her from all of us. Then, children signed their names on the back during play time. Many of them continued the project by creating their own drawings and notes for Maddie. “Maddie likes purple.” “I drew dinosaurs for Maddie. She likes them.” “Can you write, ‘I hope you can come to my birthday party’?” “I drew us holding hands and having the most fun time!”
While we are sad Maddie is not with us at school, it has sure provided lots of opportunities for literacy and social emotional work.
Along with the Maddie theme in our letter-writing, we worked on a note to the JK kids. One day, some mysterious numbers appeared taped to different parts of the classroom and we wondered where they came from, who made them, and why? So, we spent another group time composing a note to ask those questions. A couple days later, the JK kids wrote back to us. It was a great literacy activity to help children connect their intentions and ideas to the written word. Plus, an interesting way to help connect with the kids who come to school when we’re not here.
